Suppose that a physician who is treating you for cancer, were to observed the same scruples regarding their use of language as we currently see from President Obama, and congressional leadership. Now lets say that this same physician were to tell you that your “cancer is cured”. How would you know if you should start that James Mitchner novel you’ve wanted to read, or dial 911?
Medicine, for all its flaws and inefficiencies, has an exceptionally high regard for truth and plain speaking. You would not find a physician willing to tell you “you’ll be fine” when he or she believes by knowledge and experience, that you will not; to do otherwise would be considered malpractice. Physicians may choose their time and place, but you’ll not find them mincing words when it counts.
If the president and congress is going to mess with healthcare, they need do so by the rules of medicine, not politics. They need to investigate and understand the problem completely, and then produce a clear, accurate and defensible diagnosis. They need to share that diagnosis with the patient and family ( in this case the entire US citizenry) discuss options, and define anticipated outcomes of each one. They need to answer all our questions, even if we repeat a few, and provide us the evidence they have in support of their diagnosis and treatment plan. And finally, nobody should be doing anything without our written permission.
We should not accept anything less out of the president and congress than we would of our Doctor.
Thomas A. Coss, RN
